Fundraising Dos and Don'ts!

When you fundraise for Dog A.I.D. we want you to enjoy it too! 

Using these prompts will ensure that you can organise an event that runs smoothly (and legally!), allowing you to have a great time along the way!

What is a Dog A.I.D. Fundraiser?

A fundraiser is someone who raises money for Dog A.I.D. 

As a fundraiser you’re raising money to change the lives of people with disabilities throughout the UK. We’ll help you along the way, but we ask you to take responsibility for your own events and activities. It’s also important that you’re open, honest and transparent. Please let us know if you need any help!

Raffles

If you wish to run a raffle to raise funds for Dog A.I.D. please follow the link below for what you are legally allowed to do. You can read the full rules and regulations at https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-and-players/fundraising-and-lotteries

Public Collections

Written permission from the owner is required when you collect on privately owned property e.g. a pub or in a supermarket. Lots of large retailers may have internal procedures which you would need to follow. To find out if this is the case, please contact the store directly. You will need to apply for a licence if you want to collect in public spaces, e.g. street collection. Make sure you apply in plenty of time and check the maximum number of collectors you can have. If you would like us to issue you with collection buckets and ID, please contact us with please show us a copy of your licence or permission letter.

Insurance and Liability

When you organise your own fundraising event, you are responsible and may need to take out insurance such as Public Liability cover or insurance against theft, damage to property or for valuable equipment. Check to what extent the venue has insurance to cover your event as well. 

Dog A.I.D. does not have insurance to cover the events of volunteer fundraisers and cannot accept liability for your event, nor for anyone who participates in it.

Please see the guidance from the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (https://ciof.org.uk/events-and-training/resources/key-considerations-for-event-fundraising) and the Fundraising Regulator (www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/guidance/topics/community-fundraising-and-events)

Health and Safety

You should carry out your own Risk Assessment to ensure that you have properly addressed any hazards at your event. Ensure that you have first aid cover with trained volunteers/professionals if applicable. You should also make sure there’s a copy of your Risk Assessment should be available on the day of your event. Don’t forget to inform the police and council if your event is in a public place. For more information, visit www.hse.gov.uk

Gift Aid

You can ask people who are sponsoring you if they would like to Gift Aid their donation. Just tick the relevant box on your sponsorship form with details of their home address and, as long as they meet the criteria, it will enable us to claim back 25p for every £1 they donate from the government and increase the overall benefit to the charity! This is at no extra cost to them or you and is a great way of boosting how much you raise! Gift Aid can only be claimed on donations and individual sponsorship, NOT on entrance fees or anything where someone benefits, eg raffle tickets, tombolas, entrance fees etc.

If you set up your fundraising on Justgiving ( www.justgiving.com/dogaid ) they will manage the Gift Aid.

Children

If you are planning an event which children will be attending, please follow the Fundraising Regulator guidance: www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/code/working-with-others/fundraising-involving-children

Alcohol and Food

If you plan to sell alcohol at your event in a venue which is not already licenced, you will need to arrange an alcohol licence. For more information, just contact your local council for advice. If you are serving food in a public area you may need a licence and you should get copies of food hygiene certificates from caterers. Visit the Food Standards Agency website for more information www.food.gov.uk